Short story writer Linda Lewis (aka Catherine Howard) earns a living writing mainly short stories for magazines including The People’s Friend. She gives talks, runs workshops, teaches at summer schools and works as a tutor for the Writers Bureau.
See www.akacatherinehoward.weebly.com for more details.

Monday, 31 December 2012

My head has been all over the place lately.
First I was buying one house, then a different one, now the bungalow, now…..

Now I THINK I’ve decided not to move. I’m
still going to buy the bungalow but instead of moving into it, I THINK I’m going
to rent it out to get an income.

I thought that moving house would be a
great way to signify a new start but when I start to dig deeper, the stress of packing
everything up and getting settled somewhere else, even if’ it’s only round the
corner, is too much. I’ve spent my whole life feeling stressed for one reason
or another, so much so that life without stress is scary – strange but true. So
that’s why I THINK I’m going to stay put, at least for a while, and see what
happens. I could cope with the garden when I moved her, maybe I can cope with
it again. If I struggle, I can pay a gardener from time to time.

I could change my mind again tomorrow, but
having made the decision not to move at the moment, I feel as though a weight
has been lifted, so maybe it’s the right decision for now. Time will tell.

So now I have to start doing this house up.
Job number one is the hall stairs and landing which I haven’t touched since I moved
here. It’s not that nig a job as only the bottom part of the wall (currently a
very tired murky off white/palest coffee) needs painting, the top part which is
red can be tidied up. Then I will need a new stair carpet.

The problem I’ve had since I’ve moved here
is that I haven’t treated the entire house as though it’s mine (I told you I
was crazy!). This has meant that some of the things I’ve wanted to do like painting
and playing my keyboard have mostly not happened at all. When I DO paint I find
it hugely relaxing and a lot more fun than playing couch potato so the plan now
is to turn the box room into my art and craft room so that I can leave a mess
and shut the door. The second bedroom will house the keyboard (I gave the saxophone
back. Again it might sound daft but the stress of something so new and so complicated
was something I don’t need right now) and a single bed so will become a spare
room that I can also use for music.

I want to end with a quick thought or two
about the art of writing. To other writers who are starting out it might appear
that people like myself, who have sold hundreds of stories, have it easy. I can’t
speak for everyone else but I'm fairly sure that isn’t the case.

I suffer from as many crises of
confidence as any beginner. Rejection is still hard to bear. It’s still nerve wracking
getting a story ready to send off and knowing when to STOP editing it and take
the plunge. I have no better chance of
being published by Womans Weekly or Fiction Feast, or Yours, or The Weekly News, than any other writer, beginner or not, as
stories are judged on their merit (unless written by a celeb or A list author),
so if you’re starting out, don’t think that it’s harder for you. It isn’t. All
you have to do is write (and read) as much as you can, send it off, develop a
thick skin, then write some more. Grab any chance to get feedback from a writer
who has had success in the kind of writing you want to do, and never ever give
up.

It’s the end of what, for me at least, ahs
been a difficult year. I’m now trying to look forward, rather than backwards,
for the first time in decades. It’s a strange but good feeling. Wishing you and
those you care about a wonderful 2013. Please may it be a good one.

Friday, 28 December 2012

It was great to spend time with Helen this
morning. We met on the Weetwood course in November. She coped with Louis very well
and didn’t let him cadge even a crumb from her biscuits. John came back from
his Christmas with Spice sans beard. It’s weird seeing him like that as the
beard puts years on him (but as he looks younger than his years, that doesn’t
matter too much).

I have had an offer for the house but it’s
not quite high enough especially as I’ve only just lowered the price. I need to wait a while and
see what happens once Christmas as over. That said, at least I’ve had an offer
and if they can increase it a bit….

I can hardly wait for my new start. I want
out of here so much. No that this is a bad house, far from it. It’s a lovely
house on which I’ve spent an awful lot of money making various improvements,
but it’s looking tired and a bit jaded (rather like me). As well as the large garden which has become more of a burden than a pleasure, it really needs a man about
the place to do some of those little jobs that I can’t face doing (or would mess
up if I tried). I’m very good at hanging wallpaper and painting but anything that
involves proper tools, like drills, is different. I’m thinking that when I DO
move, I might buy myselfa decent drill
and an electric saw and have a go at making something, You never know, it might
be fun.

Next year I plan to have a go at various
new things to see if I can find some more things to do, that I enjoy.

Another couple are coming to see the house
tomorrow at 1. I told the agent that I have a large dog staying with me and
they said that was OK. I hope they don’t expect the house to be spotless as
with Louis around that isNOT going to
happen.

I’m working part time at the moment, in
other words, just doing a couple of hours of work each day. It’s tempting just
to slump in front of the TV for hours on end and soak up more ideas for Christmas
stories but unless I’m very lucky, I’ll only be able to sell three or four so
there’s no point writing dozens.

A pupil sent me a book of her poems asa gift, it arrived this morning. I’m thinking
of making up a collection of my poems using the wonders of Lulu. I don’t write
a lot of poetry but I think I have enough to put a collection together. That
could be fun and it won’t take long to do.

Tonight I’m watching Prometheus on DVD with John. Why with
John? I really don’t fancy watching it by myself in case it’s scary. Also if he’s
here I can open that bottle of mulled wine I won on Christmas Day…

I watched THE HELP last night on DVD and really enjoyed
it. I found the whole thing beautifully pitched and understated which gave its
message even more power. Recommended.

In order to make sure I’ll be able to write
lots of Christmas stories next year I’ve been watching all kinds of festive
films on TV. The result, loads of starting points for stories and far too many
tears shed.

So many films have the same message, family
is the most important thing of all. Result, me in tears. I watched part of a
film yesterday based on a Christmas Carol where this nasty woman who ran a
publishing company changed her spots and went from a future where she died
alone and unloved to one surrounded by family. She’d been really nasty to everyone
but in the end she found redemption and through that love. I spent my whole
life being kind. I’ve never done anything to hrt anybody, at least not on
purpose. I’m starting to think maybe that’s’ the problem, like the Blackadder
version of the same story when he goes from being nice to nasty and gets
rewarded, maybe I need to start being mean selfish and nasty. Or maybe I should
advertise for a family to adopt me.

Moan over. Sometimes I just have to put my
thoughts down on paper . It’s either that or let them overwhelm me. Things can
change. Once I move, I can start over with a new set of neighbours. Maybe I can
adopt one of them.

Work on the book is progressing well. The
great thing about non fiction is that I can dip in and out of it when I fancy.
It doesn’t matter how I’m feeling, or how long I have. Even ten minutes can be
used up.

Had a rough night, thanks to the adorable
Louis who had to get up for a wee at half past one. He’s so joyful, I can forgive
him anything. We’ve been out for a walk in the drizzle, now I have an hour
before Helen arrives. We met on the course I ran at Weetwood Hall in November
and got on well so she’s coming round for coffee. I hope she likes big dogs

Wednesday, 26 December 2012

I was fine while I was at Good Neighbours
(although my quiz turned out to be a bit too difficult), but the moment I left,
I could feel my spirits nose diving. The off licence was actually open, so I bought
myself a Magnum. Ice cream always cheers me up, specially when it’s bought as a
treat. It makes me feel special.

I couldn’t face the computer so spent the
rest of the day watching TV. I saw Tangled followed by Shrek, happily ever
after, had some more wine, some cheese and crisps and too many pickled onions and waited for the day
to be over. It was after midnight when I went to bed.

Today I’m meant to be working all day, but
I don’t have to, so I might just wander down to the sale at Chiltern Mills and
see if I can buy myself a pressie. Then again, I might not. It’s Boxing Day for
real so that means doing whatever I fancy. I’ve been neglecting Boxing Days of
late, so this is the perfect day to put them back in my diary.

(see Peter Jones’ book How to do everything
and be happy)

I hope everyone reading this had a
Christmas filled with love and laughter and that they are feeling bright and
bushy tailed this bright and sunny (hooray!) morning.

Monday, 24 December 2012

When I started writing fiction again, I set
myself a target of writing four new stories a month.

I’m delighted to say that I’ve just
completed my fourth new story for this month which is on its merry way to Woman’s
Weekly.

My next job is to prepare my pitch to an
agent so I’m going to leave blogging for now and get on with it while I’m in
the mood.

I WISH EVERY ONE OF YOU A WONDERFUL
WARM HAPPY AND HEALTHY CHRISTMAS. It’s a cliché, but this really is a time to
count our blessings so concentrate on what it is you love about your friends,
partner, family or whoever else and forgive everything else. As that man says
at the end of Some Like it Hot – nobody’s perfect.

Sunday, 23 December 2012

Today has slipped through my fingers. I've looked at a friend's first chapter and a pupil's story, but other than that and a quick nip down the shops for some air, not a lot but then it IS Christmas.
If I had a 'proper' job I'd probably be on hoiday for nearly two weeks. As I don't have a a proper job, I think I'll work tomorrow and Boxing Day (I'm at Good Nieghbours most of Christmas Day), then see how it goes.
Louis the wonderful labrador arrives on Thursday so I don't have to wait that long for a Christmas cuddle.
I'd like to wish everyone a happy Christmas.
Some of you may be dreading spending time with friends and family, but so long as you concentrate on the pluses, you'll be fine. Most of the time, the thigns we argue and fall out over really aren't worth the bother.
It's the last part of Homeland tonight. I haven't enjoyed it as much as series one but at leats I can stare at Damien Lewis. That man can act.
I watched the latest Bourne film yesterday, hired the DVD from Blockbusters. It was action packed and the opening was great to look at, but in the end I was left feeling disappointed. Bring back Matt Dmon is all I have to say.

Friday, 21 December 2012

I took some time out yesterday. What a
horrible day! All that rain, and a biting cold wind too. Just right for a trip into town for a Christmas concert, then
crossword class. I got wet going and wet coming back. It was great to get back
indoors again. I COULD have done some work then, but I didn’t. It’s all about
being kind to me, at least until Christmas has been and gone.

I finished a Christmas Wasgij (number 8). I’ve done it before, but that didn’t matter. Now I
can start a new one to give me something to do when I need to take a break.

I also went through my book of recipes. I
like to cook so as a treat, I’m going to try some new recipes, again that will
keep me positive and stop me dwelling too much on the (supposedly) good time
other people are having.

Now I think abut it, IDID do some work yesterday. I went through another
pile of magazines, tearing out useful bits and jotting down any starting points
for ideas. My Christmas file is almost full so I will have no trouble writing
festive stories next year.

Today, I plan half a day’s work, half a day
other things like going to the shops to get the missing ingredients for those
recipes. I also need to work on a quiz for Christmas Day at Good Neighbours. If
anyone can recommend one, or can email something to me, I’d very much
appreciate it. My email’s akacatherinehoward@yahoo.co.uk

I’ve fiddled with the blog settings thanks
to Jacula’s comments. I’ve no idea if the problems fixed, but fingers crossed.
I’ve also allowed anyone to comment (I didn’t even know there was a setting for
that so eternal apologies to anyone who’s struggled to post comments and been
unable to do so).

Wednesday, 19 December 2012

One day I can’t be bothered to do very much
at all. It seems like too big an effort. The next day, I’m ready for action
again.

I’m guessing it’s all part of the recovery
process. They say it takes time to get over a death, but they don’t say how
MUCH time. I do feel so much better, but every now and then, I get stuck. I
think it’s my strange way of making myself take the time I need. Whatever it
is, so long as I get the good days, I’m fine with it.

Last night, the shuffle with Spice, wasn’t
good. The venue, Tiger Tiger in Leeds city centre was a young person’s venue, by which I mean the music
was way too intrusive (i.e. deafening). OK so I’m over forty but it’s not that.
When I’m eating, that’s’ what I like to be doing, that and enjoying whatever
company there is. When you have to shout to make yourself heard, I just don’t
like it.

Here comes a grumpy old woman bit. When I
was young, places where you ate often had background music, but that’s all it
was – background. When did it suddenly become OK serve food in what amounts to
a disco? The food wasn’t much cop either.

Yesterday, I sent a couple of old
(reworked) stories to The Weekly News and that was about it really. Today I’m
getting on with the new book for writers. I could really use an agent right now
so if anyone knows a good one, please put them in touch. At the moment my plan
is to write two versions of the book – a shorter ebook which Byker Books will
put out under the profession writer series (they’ve done a brilliant job with
my other short guides which are selling well), and a longer version that I will
have printed via Lula and sell direct. That way I can have it available when I
need it.

Today is the last meeting of 2012 of East
Leeds Writers, a small group who meet in Seacroft Library (3.15 prompt if you
want to go). I’ve missed a few meetings recently so need to make the effort to
get there.

Monday, 17 December 2012

I’ve never been a big fan of Christmas. All
my life, I’ve dreamed of a big family do, complete with arguments and
disagreements but suffused with love. Each time another Christmas goes by …..

I’m still struggling to work out what I
want to do.

I know I enjoy writing short stories, now
they’re finally coming out all right again, but what else? I guess I’m looking
for a reason for my existence. Is it enough just to write stories that add a
bit of interest or sunshine to other people’s lives? I don’t know.

I spent yesterday having a big clear out, mainly
of magazines and paperwork as I don’t want to take it all with me when I move.

As I don’t plan to move in to the bungalow
immediately, I’ll have time to make sure everything’s where I want it to be. I
can also decorate without any furniture in the way. As I really do enjoy
hanging wallpaper, that will help pass some of the winter days.

Meanwhile I’d like to take this opportunity
to wish everyone I know a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year. There are
quite a few people I’ve neglected or lost touch with (S. Bee, Helen Y spring to
mind) and all I can say is I’m sorry. I was in abad place. I’m not there anymore but it’s going
to take time to put all the pieces together.

Back to talking about writing. It’s that
time of year when al the papers are full of holiday ideas. What better time to
start collecting various snippets and pictures ready as prompts for when you
need to start writing holiday stories.

And as it’s Christmas, and we’re surrounded
by seasonal films and programmes and adverts and calendars and cards with
winter scenes, now is the time to start making notes of possible starting points
for stories, or titles that have promise, pictures, cards, Christmas stories
from magazines. Keep them all, and put then away in a drawer. Then in June,
when you want to start writing about Christmas, you have a stock pile of items
and ideas to get you going. It works for me. I have had Christmas stories
published every year since I went full time in 2003. This year I have one in
Woman’s Weekly Fiction Special and another out next week in The People’s
Friend. You can do it too but you have to start NOW.

Thursday, 13 December 2012

Families can drive you mad, especially at Christmas. People give you useless
presents, they turn up at your house, eat all your food, decimate your stock of
booze, then vanish with hardly a thank you. Nieces and nephews abandon presents
minutes after they’ve unwrapped them. Your partner starts to get on your nerves
when they’re under your feet, instead of safely out of the way at work. Your in–laws,
well, what is there to say about them? You have nothing in common. They don’t want
to play any games, all they want to do is veg out in front of the TV. It’s
enough to drive you crazy.
I say, think again. Imagine what it would be like if you had nobody in your
life. Nobody to buy you the wrong present. Nobody to slave away over a hot
stove for. Nobody to buy presents for.
Think of the good things. The reasons you like your family and friends.
Nothing is ever perfect, especially not people.
Christmas should be about love. It should be about the good things not the
bad, so when you feel yourself starting to get irritated by somebody, be
grateful they’re there in the first place.

Tuesday, 11 December 2012

Now Raffy’s gone
home, I’ve crashed. I know he’s just a dog, and that a dog isn’t really company but…

I feel so bad, I’m even thinking about
moving back in with my ex just to have somebody close by. This is, in case
anyone’s wondering, a SERIOUSLY BAD IDEA.

The lady whose bungalow I’m buying is
moving into a flat on the same development as a friend of mine. You have your
own space but there are communal areas too. Since my friend moved there, her
social life’s improved so much. It’s such a great idea but you can’t move to
one of those flats unless you’re over 60. I’d like to know what people like me
are supposed to do.

I know why I’m getting fed up. Christmas.

This will be my first one, completely alone.
I don’t mind that so much, what scares e is that it will be the first of many.

I joined match.com about six weeks ago, and
so far, zilch. I’ve sent emails and winks to loads of people but so far,
nothing apart from a couple of men looking for quickies.

Workwise, I checked today with Womans
Weekly to see if they really did want ‘more sensual’ stories, and the answer is
yes, they do. Nothing too exciting of course, that would never do. I had to
check as I’m about to start work on the story I drafted a couple of days ago
which would benefit from the odd, sensual scene.

I don’t expect I’ll get round to it until
Thursday though. I had a couple of Writers Bureau assignments to mark today,
and reworked an old story to send back to Fiction Feast. I’ve had enough
sitting here, watching the world pass me by, so I’m going to turn of the pc and
catch up on reading some of the magazines in my (ever growing ) pile. I might
even see if I can conjure up some more story outlines.

Tomorrow morning, weather permitting, I’m going
to Heydays until lunch time, then a have a quick tour of the market and head
home. Then it’s the Christmas quiz at Spice so I’m not going to get much work
done tomorrow.

Sunday, 9 December 2012

I’m making good progress with my next
writing guide. I have half the basic skeleton done and plan to carry on working
on it later.

Today’s been bright and if it wasn’t for
the wind, taking the dog out would have been quite pleasant!

Sundays are an odd day for me. I often end
up feeling a bit low. I think it’s because I see weekends as being a time when families
to get together. Saturday’s not so bad as I can go down the shops, but on
Sunday, that’s not as much fun as most of the interesting ones are closed.

I’m going to the bungalow tomorrow to have
another look round and take some measurements as there were none on the estate
agents details whatsoever. I hope I still like it. I’m only half kidding. I’m
still having trouble coming to terms with the fact that I’m on my own, I don’t
have to make room for John anymore. I can only be in one room at a time and
nobody’s come to stay with me since 2005

I dug up the last potatoes this afternoon
and noticed signs of a few bulbs making growth. Had fun chasing Raffy up and
down, pretending I wanted his ball. It’s funny but the longer a dog stays with
me, the fonder I get of them….

Friday, 7 December 2012

That’s how I feel right now. It’s a winter
thing. When the weather’s fine, I can take an hour or two off and go for wander
round the shops, or into town. When it’s like this, it’s an effort just to take
Raffy out for a walk.

Right now, I have no idea how many hours work
I’m doing each week. I need to start adding them up. Why? So that I don’t feel
bad about taking a day off!. The problem is, what counts as work? Should I
include emails, tweets, time on other networks? It’s hard to know where to draw
the line.

Lime nay people I can get to the end of a
day and find myself wondering what I’ve actually done. That’s one reasonwhy I blog as it makes me look back over the
day events so that I can see that yes, I have been working. Ideally I’d like to
work for about 30 hours a week and have time for other things so I can get my life
into some kind of balance.

Today I drafted a ne story which I will
leave fora few days before typing up. I
find that way, some of the wrinkles in the plot will iron themselves out when I
come to type it.

I managed to squeeze in one piece of
marking, plus some time thinking about ideas for more stories. I want to get
back to entering the FREE Writers News competitions. In the early 2000s I entered a lot of
those, never won, lots of short listings, but went on to sell quite a few to
magazines. I’m working on ideas for the first lien competition, about Jessica
opening a door. I might even have a go at the poetry one about shadows as it’s
free.

The other thing I did today was log on to
ALCS and update my records. This wonderful organisation collects fees from places
like school then distributes it to writers whose work may have been photocopied
or used in some other way. In the last two years, they paid me enough to cover
going to Swanwick, with plenty over. If you’ve had any stories, articles or
books published, it’s worth registering with them. It doesn’t cost anything as
they take the membership fee out of any payments due. ACT NOW as the cut off point
for next year’s payment is the end of December. (www.alcs.co.uk)

Oh yea, and I also posted a great big bag
full of critiques from the NAWG competition. More going off tomorrow.

Now I plan to do some more work on the next
one in my series of writing guides, then it’s dinner, and some more reading. I’m
WAY behind with magazines of all kinds. To be a successful magazine writer you
have to read lots of magazines!

I’m in THE PEOPLE’S FRIEND this week, so I
might as well read that too while I’m at it.

Tomorrow, John will be here, looking after Raffy
while I go to Leeds Writers short story group. Weather permitting, I’ll get a
look round the German market too.

Finally, re Sad companion of Paul.

WellL done Linda for getting Blue Peter so quickly. That was the last one I solved - just couldn't think of it.

Thursday, 6 December 2012

Last night I watched Pretty Woman for the nth time. It still
made me cry. No idea what that says about me.

NAWG has notified the winners of the short story competition
which is great as I’m seeing the man who came second on Saturday and would not
have been able to keep the news quiet. I also know the lady who came second as
I met her at Swanwick.

John has sold the car that’s been on my drive so I won’ be
seeing so much of him. If the weather’s not terrible, he might be meeting another
woman from match.com (I’m still getting nowhere slowly). I’d love it if he
could find someone.

I was working on the ghost story today, tweaking it so that
it was OK to send to Ficiton Feast. That’s now gone off in the post.

IU went to crosswords and Jack, the leader, was there. So
good to see him as he’s been in and out
of hospital so many times lately. I took the chocolates I won in the U3A quiz
as I don’t eat them. I had to leave early as I had my six monthly dentist check
up, I’ve had a morbid fear of dentists for many a long year and normally fret
about going, something rotten. Yesterday, I gave myself a good talking to. Basically,
the message was, why worry about it? That won’t change anything, all it will do
is make me feel bad. So I didn’t worry, which meant I got some sleep, and
managed to get some work done this morning. Luckily the dentist was happy and I
haven’t got to go back (hooray).

I felt so relived, I celebrated by buying something nice to
eat (lamb shank with cauliflower, sprouts, carrots and new potatoes followed by
wheat free almond tart with vanilla ice cream).

Now, the plan is to get some story starting points for
stories together. I want to write four new stories a month, a lot less than I
used to, until I get back into the groove. I write better in the morning so I
want to get up early, walk the dog, and get down to some writing. I don’t want
to have to waste that time finding the ideas to work on.

I bought a copy of the People’s Friend today with one of my
Christmas stories inside (I’d forgotten I’d sold it to them which was nice). It
still feels odd to be in that magazine as it took me so long to make a sale to
them.

Wednesday, 5 December 2012

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Yesterday was mostly a day off. I didn’t
intend it to be, it just happened.

I had my first Christmas do at the U3A in
Headingly. I don’t get to meetings they’re on the other side of the city, so it
was a chance to actually meet some people, have a decent meal, and help my
table win the quiz.

The quiz was one of those cryptic ones
where you have to work out a clue. The answers to the first part were all TV
shows. For example, where you might go to get crowned – answer – Coronation Street

The prize was a ginormous tin of chocolates
which were shared out. I’m going to take my portion to crosswords tomorrow as I
don’t eat chocolates. I gave up three years ago as my addiction was out of
control. I get by now with choc ices, the odd cake, pudding and biscuit.

I’d hoped from a call from the estate agent
as the family who came fora second
viewing said my house was on a short list of two. I guess they’ve gone for the
other one, but at least that shows there ARE people out there, so
once Christmas is out of the way, I can make a bigger effort to find a buyer.

Last night, another Christmas do, this time
at the WI which I’ve just joined. It was an odd evening. Nothing seemed to have
been planned. There was tea and food, chat and carol singing. Quite nice in a
strange kind of way.

A copy of Woman’s Weekly Fiction Special
arrived in the post. They send contributors a copy when they have a story published.
It felt really good to be back in, what for me anyway, is the best and
therefore hardest magazine to sell to. If
you sneak a look when you’re in the newsagents/Tescos, you’ll see where I got
the idea from – those daft quizzes you often see in magazines.

I’ve had an email from the Chair of NAWG
asking if I’ll teach at the festival again next September. I’m more than happy
to even though Warwick is not the easiest place to get to when you don’t drive. I’ve asked
if I can have the Friday free of teaching then it won’t matter if I’m a bit
late getting there.

I’ll leave you with this question from the
U3A quiz – the answer is a TV show.

Monday, 3 December 2012

Today has been spent mostly doing admin, which
is not my favourite thing to do. I’ve been sorting the critiques from the NAGW
competition and matching them up with their envelopes. The trouble is, quite a
few of the envelopes people have supplied aren’t up the job so unless I write
out new ones, the person will get charged excess postage.

I also made a major **** by somehow selling
a story to two magazines, albeit with different endings. I emailed the second
mag as soon as I realised what had happened then was on tenterhooks waiting to
see what they said. Luckily they took it well. I have no idea how I managed to
do such a stupid thing. It just goes to show that my head has been all over the
place.

Today the family who viewed the house on
Saturday came back with their children. It seems I’m on a short list of two, so
I’ll know in a couple of days whether I have found a buyer. That would be such an
amazing Christmas present.

Sunday, 2 December 2012

He’s the only close (geographically) friend
I have and I wouldn’t want to lose him, but….

Sometimes he treats my house like it’s his
and after a while, that really starts to get under my skin. Yesterday, for example.
Once he left, I couldn’t even raise the energy to blog not even after spending
an hour on the phone (that’s right, an hour) talking to Shirley, one of my friends
who lives in Scarborough.

It will be better once he’s got rid of the
second car that’s been parked on my driveway. Then he’ll have to arrange to
come round rather than simply turn up.

Ideally, he’d live round the corner from
me, in a house big enough so that I can pop round to HIS place, and he can feed
ME, and I can drink HIS tea and coffee, and eat HIS cakes and biscuits. All I
have to do is move, sell my house, buy a two bedroomed one and rent it to him. Sounds like a plan.

Now back to work. I’m going to the club’s short
story group next Saturday. Before that I have to read everyone else’s stories
and do written feedback for three of them. I’m having huge trouble with this.
Why? Because I haven’t a clue why the authors have written the stories. I’m so
used to giving feedback which is market/competition related, I feel lost . There’s
no point saying something critical if the story’s only been written for the
author or their friends and family. I’m also just a tiny bit scared what they’ll
say about my effort. It’s a Woman’s Weekly story with lots of emotion. Somebody
who doesn’t read that kind of thing and maybe even hates that kind of story isn’t
going to have much to say that’s positive. This is why I always tell people to
take care who they ask for feedback. The wrong person can set you back. Believe
me, I know

About Me

I write for a living, have done since 2003. I have lost count of how many stories I have sold to women's magazines, but it's at least six hundred.
My main markets are Woman's Weekly Take a Break's Fiction Feast and the People's Friend. I also give talks, run workshops and teach. My first book for writers was published in 2012 and is called THE WRITER'S TREASURY OF IDEAS. I have also published several books designed to help writers to improve their craft and find ideas.
At the moment, I live in Leeds.
I'm divorced and even though I'm in my (early) sixties, I still believe that one day, I will find true love.
Cue the violins!